Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: #20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Well, there was no way Do-hyun would get hurt by something as puny as submachine gun fire.
"Sorry for startling you, sir."
The one who ambushed Do-hyun wasn't an Awakener villain, but an ordinary civilian. Drugged up on the new-age narcotic NHD.
The airport guards nabbed him before Do-hyun even had to lift a finger, and since the guy was out of his mind and rambling incoherently, they couldn't identify any backers.
Still, whoever was behind it didn't matter. The intent was crystal clear.
It was a warning aimed at Do-hyun.
'Don't get cocky.'
After pulling all that aggro in Hawaii and then Washington, plenty of eyes were bound to be watching his trip to California.
"Where are you headed? LAPD can provide an escort."
"Thanks, but I don't think that'll be necessary."
The moment he stepped out of the airport gate, people approached him.
All of them decked out in sharp designer suits.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kim. We're from Southern Beach Company. Mind if we give you a ride?"
"We're from Everhard Union. We'd love to drive you."
"We're with Kais Corporal. Allow us to escort you?"
They were all from different outfits.
The top players leading California's arcane business scene.
For context, Korea often kept hunter guilds separate from corporations, but America didn't play that way.
Most guilds were subsidiaries of massive corporations.
Do-hyun whistled at the sight of the gleaming limousines lined up along the narrow road, all there to whisk him away.
'Pulling that aggro paid off. Bullet shower right on arrival, followed by all these love letters. Makes sense—I'm the hottest free agent in America right now.'
Corporate bidding wars for S-Ranks were legendary in the States.
Only a tiny fraction went to Super Force or HPD.
The rest got treated like kings working for the companies.
"I've only got one body, but there are way too many limos here. Can't exactly hop between them all. Any chance you folks can help me pick one?"
As Do-hyun tossed out the opener, the suited reps jumped in, one-upping each other.
"Southern Beach offers a base salary of ten million dollars a year. Can't disclose exact gate-clearing incentives, but we guarantee industry-leading rates. We'll lock in VP-level status, with stock options based on contract terms."
"Everhard's base is..."
The pitches were all much of a muchness.
Base salaries from ten to twenty million bucks.
Hunter contracts lived on incentives, so this base pay was a sincere show of top-tier treatment for Do-hyun.
Incentives at max rates, of course.
Titles from director to VP at minimum.
Stock options, perks galore.
'Spot-on for an Lv. 7 S-Rank.'
Anything better—like "CEO" treatment—required Lv. 8 Nova status.
"No need to decide right now; don't feel pressured. We just want you to know our company holds you in high regard."
"Same here. Those terms are floor-level—we can bump them up anytime. If there's anything you want..."
The scouts were salivating, bending over backward to please him.
A fresh-faced S-Rank newbie might've lost his head.
But Do-hyun had been through this rodeo plenty of times.
"That's fine. I've got one request, though—anyone here able to meet it?"
"Name it."
"Not employment. I want a partnership."
"Freelance partner? Terms might dip a bit, but if that's what you want..."
"No. I'm planning to start my own company. I'm offering you all a chance to partner up."
The scouts looked flummoxed.
"...Starting a company? You mean a guild? We could hire it out if so..."
"Not a guild. Arcane business ventures. I've got some killer ideas."
'America screams startups, right?'
Do-hyun had encyclopedic knowledge of arcane science. Each item a potential goldmine.
But in past loops, he couldn't cash in properly.
'Korea's arcane market was too damn small.'
Especially revolutionary stuff like H-NHD—he couldn't even go public with it.
Superpowers like America or China wouldn't sit idle.
So he'd drip-fed knowledge reactively.
'No such worries here. I can unleash world-shaking intel freely.'
"That's..."
The scouts balked.
They wanted his S-Rank muscle, not arcane biz partnerships.
Such deals were always a raw deal for the companies.
"No rush to decide. Just know this partnership offer is an 'opportunity' for your firms. Let it slip by, and it'll vanish."
Every arcane biz in America would beg to partner with him eventually. Desperate for even scraps of the fruit he'd bear.
Do-hyun planned a total monopoly.
But the scouts dismissed it as bluster and bailed, shaking their heads.
One lingered.
The quiet one who'd hung back during the scrum.
"The mayor wants to meet you. Got time?"
America, as everyone knows, runs on cars for everything.
Sure, big cities have decent public transit—but not LA.
It exists, but crime keeps everyone away.
Pre-cataclysm, and even more so now.
Anyway, with everyone driving personal vehicles, chronic gridlock was infamous. Do-hyun's ride was crawling too.
Oh, and the mayor's invite came via a standard American sedan, not some flashy limo.
'Ditching those ritzy limos for this junker ride.'
Trivial, but Do-hyun found it amusing and chuckled.
'Meeting LA's mayor in person should be even funnier.'
"Is the mayor summoning me as mayor... or as Helstech's CEO?"
LA Mayor Byron Palmer.
Ex-CEO of the arcane biz unicorn Helstech.
He'd stepped down as CEO upon election but still ran it unofficially as outside director. Conflict-of-interest laws existed, but they weren't enforced.
Never had been, really. Less so now.
"...Beats me. Just told to fetch you."
"So, city employee? Or Helstech staff?"
"...I'm personally employed by the mayor."
"Haha. Classic LA. Hiring villains on the side."
"!!"
The driver's face stiffened at Do-hyun's words.
'Tch. Tough holding back the hunger.'
That's right.
The guy driving Do-hyun to the mayor was a villain.
One radiating intense 'appetite' that even Devourer of Evil Destruction picked up strong.
'Appetite this fierce? Monster-tier villain at least.'
Made sense.
Considering the mayor's 'true face.'
The villain driver clamped his mouth shut.
Do-hyun did the same to suppress his appetite.
Conversation dead, Do-hyun boredly gazed out the window.
A Helstech billboard from Mayor Byron Palmer popped into view.
-Fentanyl? Enjoy safe, healthy enhancers now! Neo-Healthy Drug (NHD) gifts you guilt-free pleasure!
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kim! Honored to greet America's hero! Should've come myself—sorry I didn't."
LA Mayor Byron Palmer was late thirties, young for the job.
Less mayor, more Hollywood leading man. Charismatic politico-businessman vibe.
But Do-hyun couldn't return the warm greeting.
-Gulp.
Seeing Byron Palmer triggered ravenous 'appetite.'
He'd known, but damn—LA Mayor Byron Palmer was a monster of a villain.
"Kim?"
"...Nah, nothing. Nice to meet you too."
Do-hyun forced an awkward smile and shook his head.
'Hold it together, Devourer. Not yet.'
Like he'd hinted to the president, he planned to eliminate Byron Palmer.
Timing and method TBD, though.
'...But he looks so damn tasty. Makes me wanna kill him right now.'
Bad risk of an 'accident.' Better bail ASAP.
"You're busy, so cut to the chase. Why'd you call me here?"
"Haha, obviously to meet America's new hero, Kim."
"Mr. Mayor?"
Do-hyun smiled.
"I said get to the point."
"!!"
Chills ran down Byron Palmer's spine.
His face shifted; he lit a cigar and blew smoke Do-hyun's way.
"Hoo. Called you out of concern."
"Concern for me?"
"SALA's gunning for you."
Familiar name.
Satan of LA.
SALA for short.
The apex villain ruling LA's underworld.
"That airport ambush today? SALA's warning to you."
Do-hyun nearly snorted.
'Wondered who sent that cute little hitman. The mayor, huh.'
By US gov rankings, SALA outranked even Genocider.
Genocider was Devil-rank.
SALA? Satan-rank.
No way it'd bother with such a lame warning.
"Plenty of great heroes have fallen to SALA."
"Mr. Mayor? Point. My patience is wearing thin."
"...!!"
Byron Palmer's smile vanished entirely.
"Join Helstech. Even SALA won't touch an NHD company."
"That all?"
Byron scowled fiercely, shredding the last veneer of courtesy.
"Genocider or whatever. This is LA. Know how many cocky punks like you I've buried? Want to live? Obey me. Only way you survive here."
After meeting Do-hyun, post-rush hour.
"We're here, Mayor."
Byron Palmer sighed deeply, arriving at an outskirt hotel.
He strode in familiarly, revealing a shocking scene.
An underground pleasure party raging.
But not your standard orgy.
Bodies littered the place.
"To your room."
"Yeah, need to unwind hard tonight. No troublemakers."
Byron popped an NHD.
Do-hyun's glare still sent shivers down his spine.
'Arrogant bastard. Some two-bit villain daring... If the board hadn't flagged him, I wouldn't bother...'
Then the door opened.
A slender man entered. Dim lights hid his face, but he looked handsome.
Byron was bisexual.
Hotel prepped a male partner this time.
'Of all things, an Asian.'
Genocider flashbacks soured his mood, but whatever—better this way.
Screams would improve his vibe.
"Come closer."
But as the man neared, Byron recoiled in horror.
"Y-you?!"
It was Do-hyun!
Grinning ear to ear at him.
"Peekaboo."